Combined carrier and transport unit for use in connection with germination seed tapes

ABSTRACT

A combined carrier and transport unit is open at the top and has a perforated bottom. The unit is made of sheet material and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. The bottom of the U forms the bottom wall of the unit and the two sides of the U form side supporting walls for a seed tape that can be folded and placed edgewise on the bottom wall. Connecting members are provided in the transition area between the bottom wall and each side supporting wall. These connecting members can be bent outwards and downwards so that the side walls and the bottom wall are on the same level when the unit is not in use, and can be bent upwards when the unit is in use. The resulting unit is very light, and in the empty piled state it requires very little room.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a combined carrier and transport unit for usein connection with germination of seed tapes and a later bedding out ofsaid seed tapes by means of a planting machine, said combined carrierand transport unit being open at the top and comprising a perforatedbottom wall.

BACKGROUND ART

Combined carrier and transport units have been known for a long time inconnection with machines for bedding out plants, possibly small trees,where each plant is positioned in a small container and where thecombined carrier and transport unit then comprises a plurality of suchjuxtaposed containers. The bedding out usually involves the use of avery high number of combined carrier and transport units, and after saidcombined carrier and transport units have been emptied they can indeedbe piled atop one another, but not inside one another, viz. beingnested. Accordingly, these combined carrier and transport units areencumbered with the disadvantageous draw-back of taking up a very largevolume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a combined carrier andtransport unit of the above type which is very light and which inaddition in the piled empty state requires very little room.

The combined carrier and transport unit according to the invention ischaracterised in that it is made of sheet material and is of asubstantially U-shaped cross section, where the bottom web of the Uforms the bottom wall of the unit, and where the two side webs of the Uform side supporting walls for the seed tape which can be zigzag foldedand placed edgewise on said bottom wall, and that connecting members areprovided in the transition area between the bottom wall and each sidesupporting wall, said connecting members being adapted to be folded insuch a manner that said side supporting walls and said bottom wall arepositioned on the same level when the unit is not in use, and that whenthe unit is in use tight side supporting tapes are provided betweenopposing ends of said side supporting walls so as to additionallysupport the seed tape from the side. The resulting combined carrier andtransport unit is very light due to the high number of holes. Inaddition, it has much room for a zigzag folded seed tape. In particularit should be noted that when the unit has been emptied and is not inuse, it requires very little room because in this state the unit can becompletely flattened as the side supporting walls can be folded outwardsand downwards so as to flush with the the bottom wall. Several unitspiled atop one another take up minimum room. When the carrier andtransport unit is to be used again, the side supporting walls are bentupwards so as to form an angle of approximately 90° with the the bottomwall and the side supporting band is put tightly about the entire unit,said band abutting said side supporting walls. The seed tape ispositioned edgewise and zigzag folded on the the bottom wall. After thegermination, the seed tape can be bedded out by the unit being arrangedon a planting machine known per se, whereafter said seed tape can begradually pulled off said unit. In addition the carrier and transportunit is environmentally friendly because the user is not tempted tothrow away the unit in the open after use.

The sheet material may according to the invention be a thin sheet ofaluminium or soft steel, preferably of a thickness of 0.60 to 0.70 mm.As a result the said side supporting walls can typically tolerate abending up and downwards approximately eight times before they breakoff, and accordingly the carrier and transport unit is provided with areasonable durability.

Moreover, a plurality of holes may be punched out in the bottom wall soas to form a grating, whereby the connecting members may be relativelynarrow bridge pieces resulting from a punching out of a plurality ofnarrow oblong holes at short regular intervals in said transition area.As a result the connecting members are particularly easy to handle withthe effect that the side supporting walls can tolerate a higher numberof up and downward bendings than previously.

The connecting members may according to the invention be formed byhinges, such as pivot hinges, between the side supporting walls of thewalls and the bottom wall as well as reinforcing angle braces arrangedat at least one end of each side wall. As a result the carrier andtransport unit is particularly durable because it can be reused a highnumber of times.

Furthermore, the sheet material used may according to the invention bemade of plastics, preferably polyethylene, whereby the connectingmembers of the transition area can easily be formed by thin metal wirenets embedded in said plastics and preferably made of thin wires, ormerely by separate thin metal wires arranged in parallel. The resultingcarrier and transport unit is inexpensive to manufacture at the sametime as it is very strong.

Moreover, the plastics used may according to the invention be expandedplastics, preferably a laminate of polypropylene and polyethylene, whichturned out to be particularly advantageous.

According to the invention the connecting members may be formed by filmhinges, whereby the carrier and transport unit is particularly simple.

The side supporting band may according to the invention be a bandpreferably made of plastics and for instance provided with an adhesiveon one side, said side supporting band being wound tightly about theunit and adhering to the side supporting members by the adhesiveportions opposite said side supporting members. As a result the carrierand transport unit is particularly easy to handle during the bedding outbecause then it is only necessary to break the band in order to pull outthe seed tape sideways from the unit, said seed tape sliding across thebottom wall.

The bottom web of the U may according to the invention present aslightly concave curvature towards the interior of the U, whereby thebottom wall of the carrier and transport unit does not “sack” during theload of the seed tape, but be substantially planar.

In addition, the side supporting walls may according to the invention atone or both ends be extended a distance beyond the the bottom wall, andthe extended portion may be bent inwards towards one of the centre linesof said the bottom wall. As a result a kind of “opening” can be formedon the carrier and transport unit, and the germinated seed tape can bepulled out of said opening when the bedding out is to be carried out.

According to the invention the bottom wall may be zigzag folded whenseen in cross section, whereby each fold of the zigzag shape can be lessthan 0.2 times the height of the side supporting walls. In this mannerthe common contact area between the seed tape placed edgewise and thebottom wall of the carrier and transport unit is rather small with theresult that the pulling out of said seed tape from the carrier andtransport unit has been facilitated during the bedding out.

Moreover, the side supporting walls may according to the invention be ofa height substantially corresponding to the width of the seed tape, andpreferably a few mm higher than the width of said tape. Such a height ofthe side supporting walls turned out to be particularly advantageous.

According to the invention the side supporting walls may be equally highand preferably of a height less than 7 cm, whereas the bottom wall maybe of a width of 30 to 50 cm, preferably 40 cm, and a length of 70 to 90cm, preferably 80 cm. The resulting carrier and transport unit is ofsuch a size that it can be placed on most types of pallets.

According to the invention the adhesive tape is advantageously of awidth of 1.5 to 2.5 cm, preferably 2 cm.

Moreover it is according to the invention possible that the sidesupporting walls comprise at least one recess or at least one hole to beused by the moving or positioning of the unit.

In addition, the sheet material may according to the invention be metalsheet coated with plastics, preferably polyethylene, whereby especiallythe bottom wall of the carrier and transport unit is particularly smoothwith the effect that the germinated seed tape is particularly easy topull out of the unit.

According to the invention the sheet material may exclusively be made ofa polypropylene with the result that the side supporting walls toleratea bending up and downwards a very high number of times.

The invention relates also to a rack for storing a plurality of carrierand transport units according to the invention, and this rack ischaracterised in that it comprises four substantially vertical postsinterconnected by means of two interspaced frames, and that a pluralityof holes arranged atop one another are provided on the inner side ofsaid posts, and that a releasable, possibly pivotal carrier is providedopposite each hole, said carrier for instance being in form of a pivotdisplaceable through each hole and capable of sliding into or below acarrier and transport unit when the latter is positioned in the rackwhere said carrier and transport unit forms a shelf in said rack. As aresult a very reliable storing of the carrier and transport units isobtained as well as of the associated seed tapes during the germinationof the seeds in said seed tapes.

Finally, the posts of the rack may according to the invention comprisewheels with the result that the carrier and transport units in said rackcan easily be moved around in a greenhouse for the germination, in whichthe seed tape is to be subjected to a germination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the carrier andtransport unit according to the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates on a larger scale a corner of the carrier andtransport unit of FIG. 1, the side supporting wall of said unit beingbent outwards and downwards so as to flush with the bottom wall of saidunit,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier and transport unit of FIG. 1filled with a seed tape, and where a side supporting band has beenarranged tightly about said unit,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the carrier andtransport unit according to the invention, where the side supportingwalls have been hinged to the bottom wall of said unit,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the unitaccording to the invention and clearly showing that the bottom web isslightly curved upwards,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the carrier andtransport unit according to the invention, where the side supportingwalls have been extended and bent inwards towards the centre line of theunit,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the carrierand transport unit according to the invention, where it is shown how thebottom web of the U can be zigzag folded,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rack according to the invention forstoring a plurality of carrier and transport units according to theinvention,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a post with a carrier, and

FIG. 10 illustrates a corner of an embodiment of the carrier andtransport unit, the transition area including a metal wire net.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The carrier and transport unit shown in FIG. 1 is intended to be usedfor germination of seed tapes and a later bedding out of said seed tapesby means of a planting machine. The carrier and transport unit comprisesa length of sheet material of a substantially U-shaped cross section.The bottom web of the U forms a bottom wall 1 in the unit, and the twoside webs of said U form side supporting walls 2 for the seed tape. FIG.3 shows an embodiment of the carrier and transport unit and illustrateshow a seed tape 9 placed edgewise can be placed on the bottom wall ofthe said carrier and transport unit, said seed tape being zigzag folded.Such a zigzag folding is, however, not absolutely necessary.

The bottom wall 1 is perforated, viz. comprises a high number of smallholes 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, connecting members are provided in thetransition area between the bottom wall 3 and each supporting wall 2.These connecting members can be in form of a plurality of narrow bridgepieces 4 arranged between some oblong holes 5. The connecting membersare adapted so as to be bendable when the unit is not in use whereby theside supporting wall 2 and the bottom wall 1 are placed on the samelevel. As a result, a high number of flattened carrier and transportunits only take up little room when they are piled atop one another.When the carrier and transport unit is to be used, the side supportingwalls 2 are bent upwards, cf. FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a side supporting band 10 can be provided inform of a band, preferably made of plastics and for instance providedwith adhesive on one side, said side supporting band being placedtightly about the carrier and transport unit and serving to provide theseed tape 9 with an additional support from the side.

The sheet material can be a thin sheet of aluminium or soft steel,preferably of a thickness of 0.60 to 0.70 mm. The holes 3 can bearranged such that the bottom wall forms a grating, cf. FIG. 1. Theseholes 3 and 5 are usually manufactured by way of punching.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting members can be formed by pivots 14 aswell as reinforcing angle braces 15 hinged thereon at at least one endof each side wall.

The sheet material used can also be made of plastics, such aspolyethylene. Then the connecting members can be formed by metal wires4′ cast into the plastics. These wires can, if desired, form part of oneor more of the above bridge pieces 4, cf. FIG. 1.

It is also possible that these connecting members are formed by filmhinges.

The side supporting band shown in FIG. 3 can preferably be an adhesivetape, preferably made of plastics and wound tightly about the entireunit. This band adheres to the side supporting walls 2, but pass freelyin the air in the space between the side walls.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of thecarrier and transport unit. The cross section is U-shaped, and itappears clearly that the bottom web 1 a of the U presents a slightlyconcave curvature towards the interior of the U. FIG. 6 shows how theside supporting walls 2 at one end can be extended a length beyond thebottom wall 1, cf. the extended lengths 2 a. These extended length havebeen bent inwards towards the centre line 12 of the bottom wall 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates the substantially U-shaped cross section of anadditional embodiment of the carrier and transport unit according to theinvention. The bottom web 1′ of the U is here zigzag folded, and eachfold u of the zigzag folding can be less than 0.2 times the height h ofthe side supporting wall 2.

The side supporting walls can be of a height substantially correspondingto the width of the seed tape, but is preferably a few mm higher thanthe width of said tape. The side supporting walls 2 are equally high andpreferably of a height h less than 7 cm, whereas the bottom wall is of awidth b of 30 to 50 cm, preferably 40 cm, and a length 1 of 70 to 90 cm,preferably 80 cm.

The adhesive tape is of a width of 1.5 to 2.5 cm, preferably 2 cm.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the side supporting walls 2 comprise at leastone recess or at least one hole 11 to be used by the moving orpositioning of the unit.

The carrier and transport unit can, if desired, be made of metal sheetcoated with plastics, preferably polyethylene.

FIG. 8 shows a rack for storing a plurality of carrier and transportunits according to the invention. The rack comprises four substantiallyvertical posts 14 interconnected by means of two interspaced frames 17′and 17″. A plurality of opposing holes 20 are provided on the inner sideof the posts 14, cf. FIG. 9. A releasable, possibly displaceable carrieris provided on the posts opposite each hole. This carrier is forinstance in form of a pivot 22 displaceable through each hole andcapable of sliding into a carrier and transport unit, such as one of theholes 11 of the unit, when said unit is to be placed in the rack. Thepivot can, if desired, merely slide below the carrier and transportunit.

As shown in FIG. 8, the posts 14 can at the bottom be provided withwheels 25 with the result that it is very easy to move the rack aroundinside a germination house.

FIG. 10 shows how the plastic sheet material of the carrier andtransport unit can be for instance a plastic laminate, such as alaminate of polypropylene and polyethylene, where the connecting membersof the transition area are formed by a metal wire net 40 of relativelythin wires. The metal wire net can optionally extend through the entiresheet. Many parallel metal wires can also be used, such as for instancethe thin metal wires 41 of FIG. 10. The transverse metal wires are thenomitted.

The sheet material can possibly be made exclusively of polypropylene.

The sheet material used can also be made of expanded plastics, viz.plastics with open or closed cells, which makes the carrier andtransport unit relatively light. The latter unit is also environmentallyfriendly because it does not require the use of much plastics. The sheetmaterial is typically of a thickness of 3 to 6 mm.

As the carrier and transport unit does not comprise dirt-trappingcorners, it is very easy to clean.

The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviatingfrom scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier and transport unit for use inconnection with germination of seed tapes (9) and a later bedding out ofsaid seed tapes by means of a planting machine, said unit being open atthe top and comprising a perforated bottom wall (1), characterised inthat it is made of sheet material and has a cross section substantiallyshaped as a U, where a bottom web of the U forms the bottom wall (1) ofthe unit, and two side webs of the U form side supporting walls (2) forthe seed tape (9), which seed tape can be zigzag folded and placededgewise on said bottom wall (1), and that connecting members (4) areprovided in a transition area between the bottom wall (1) and each sidesupporting wall (2), said connecting members being adapted when the unitis not in use to be folded in such a manner that the side supportingwalls (2) and the bottom wall (1) are positioned on the same level, andthat when the unit is in use at least one tight side supporting tape(10) is provided between opposing ends of said side supporting walls (2)so as to additionally support the seed tape from the side, furthercharacterised in that the side supporting walls (2) have a height (h)that the bottom wall (1) is of a zigzag cross section with a pluralityof folds (u), and that each fold (u) of the zigzag folding of the bottomwall is less than 0.2 times the height (h) of the side supporting walls(2).
 2. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterisedin that the sheet material is a thin sheet of aluminium or soft steel.3. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised inthat a plurality of holes (3) are punched out of the bottom wall so asto form a grating (13), and that the said connecting members are formedby relatively narrow bridge pieces (4) manufactured by a punching out ofa plurality of narrow oblong holes (5) interspaced a short distance insaid transition area.
 4. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim1, characterised in that the connecting members are formed by hinges(14) between each side supporting wall (2) and the bottom wall (1) aswell as reinforcing angle braces (15) hinged thereon and placed at atleast one end of each side wall (2).
 5. Carrier and transport unit asclaimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sheet material used isplastics and that the connecting members of the transition area areformed by metal wire nets (4) embedded in the plastics or merely byseparate thin parallel metal wires (41).
 6. Carrier and transport unitas claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sheet material used isexpanded plastics.
 7. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim 1,characterised in that the connecting members of the transition area areformed by film hinges.
 8. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim1, characterised in that the side supporting band (10) is made ofplastics, and provided with an adhesive on one side, said sidesupporting band being wound tightly about the unit, the band havingportions opposing the side supporting walls (2) and adhering or beingfastened to said unit.
 9. Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim1, characterised in that the bottom web (1 a) of the U presents aslightly con- cave curvature towards the interior of the U.
 10. Carrierand transport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sidesupporting walls (2) at one or both ends have been extended a lengthbeyond the bottom wall (1), and that the extended length (2 a) is bentinwards towards one of the centre lines (12) of the bottom wall. 11.Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in thatthe side supporting walls (2) are of a height (h) substantiallycorresponding to the width of the seed tape.
 12. Carrier and transportunit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the side supportingwalls (2) are equally high and preferably are of a height of less than 7cm, whereas the bottom wall (1) is of a width (b) of 30 to 50 cm. 13.Carrier and transport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in thatthe adhesive tape (10) is of a width of 1.5 to 2.5 cm.
 14. Carrier andtransport unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each sidesupporting wall (2) comprises at least one recess or hole (11) to beused when moving or positioning the unit.
 15. Carrier and transport unitas claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sheet material (1) ismetal sheet coated polyethylene.
 16. Carrier and transport unit asclaimed in claim 1, characterised in that the sheet material is madeexclusively of polypropylene.
 17. Rack for storing a plurality ofcarrier and transport units according to claim 1, characterised in thatit comprises four substantially vertical posts (14) interconnected bymeans of two interspaced frames (17′, 17″), and that a plurality ofholes arranged above one another are provided on the inner side of theposts (14).
 18. Rack as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that theposts (14) thereof are provided with wheels (25).